The Weave and Magic

The Weave is an invisible force of unknown origin that envelops all things and holds the very fabric of the universe together. Spellcasters cast their magic by interacting with the Weave using verbal, somatic, or material spellcasting components. This works because everything interacts differently with the Weave. The weave flows differently through a Human than it does an Elf or Dwarf. This also applies to inanimate objects which is how material spellcasting components work. When interacted with, the Weave is drained and rarely even damaged, but is almost instantly mended and replenished by Mystra, goddess of magic and her apostles. If Mystra were to for any reason stop replenishing the magical essence stored in the Weave it would grow rigid and non-malleable, drained of its remaining power by spellcasters and magical items. If all the magic stored within the Weave is used, spellcasters and magical items would be unable to regenerate their magic, though they could still use what little magic they had left in them.

How different types of magic interact with the Weave

There are 3 different types of magic in Ebresia and each type interacts differently with the Weave. The 3 types of magic are Arcane, Divine, and Shadow Magic.

• Divine magic: Divine magic is the magic gifted to mortals by the gods and is most often used by Clerics, Druids, Bards, Paladins, Monks, and Rangers. This magic can come from many sources but must be cast using the weave. These sources include but are not limited to; directly being given by a god, harnessing the intrinsic divine magic within nature, harnessing the intrinsic divine magic within oneself, and harnessing the divine magic of revelry and song. The gods created divine magic and it is rarely harmful to the weave. Examples include using the power of your god to manipulate the Weave into closing the wounds of an ally, invoking the divine power within nature to mold the Weave into the shape of vines to burst out of the ground and restrain an opponent, etc.
• Arcane magic: Arcane magic is the most intensive form of magic, and is often used by Wizards, Sorcerers, and Warlocks. This magic can come in three different ways. For sorcerers, the Weave flows differently through their blood, allowing them to interact with it in ways others could not. For Warlocks, their patron gifts them a small portion of their world-bending power to allow the Warlock to bend the weave to their will. Wizards are often the most respected users of this type of magic because they manipulate the weave with nothing but their own mind and body (after years and years of training of course). Examples include plucking a few strings of the weave to release the magic stored within and create shockwaves of force that seek out enemies, tightening the weave to create an invisible but resilient barrier, unleashing the power stored in the weave around your hands and transforming it into fire spraying out from your fingertips, etc.
• Shadow magic: Shadow magic is very similar to Arcane magic and is often used by arcane casters, but it is not the same. Arcane magic is produced solely by manipulating the weave, while shadow magic is produced by manipulating the Shadow Weave, a cheap copy of Mystra's weave made by a god of darkness. Shadow magic is a special type of illusion magic that can deal real damage (think Phantasmal Force or Illusory Dragon). Examples include spinning the Shadow Weave into a physical blade of shadow, wrapping strands of the Shadow Weave around someone's head forcing them to see their worst fears realized, and spinning the Weave into the shape of a dragon which manifests in physical form due to the shadow essence being squeezed out it, etc. This type of magic is significantly stronger in the Shadowfell.

Manifestation

The Weave is an impossibly large collection of invisible strands that span all of the multiverse holding reality together. It cannot be seen normally be seen (with a few exceptions), but if it wasn't invisible, it would look like an infinite number of blue glowing strings arranged in a grid pattern that goes on forever in every direction.

Type

Metaphysical, Astral